Your pets almost certainly won’t give you Covid-19

11th Mar 2020

Claim

Covid-19 can be transmitted between humans and pets.

Conclusion

There is one reported case of a pet dog in Hong Kong testing ‘weak positive’ for Covid-19. However, the dog is showing no symptoms and there is some question to whether the positive test is valid. The WHO and NHS says there is no evidence that pets can become infected or pass the virus to people.

Our readers have asked us: can Covid-19 cross between humans and pets?

Several newspapershavereported that a dog in Hong Kong has contracted the virus from its owner and, following this, authorities there have warned residents to not kiss pets. However, the dog had no symptoms and experts say pets are unlikely to be infected or a source of infection.

The latest advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) says that “there is no evidence that companion animals or pets such as dogs or cats have been infected or could spread the virus that causes COVID-19”. NHS England provides similar advice on its website.

A dog in Hong Kong has tested ‘weak positive’ for Covid-19

On 28 February 2020, the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department reported on a case of a pet dog testing “weak positive to Covid-19 virus”. The dog had no symptoms and was put into quarantine.

The department initially proposed that the weak positive Covid-19 infection could be the result of “environmental contamination of the dog’s mouth and nose”.

However, on 4 March, the department said that the dog did have a low level infection with the virus. Citing several expert sources, including the World Organisation for Animal Health, the department also said that this infection was likely to be from human-to-animal transmission.

But some other experts have questioned whether there is enough evidence to say this dog has the virus

A professor of Molecular Virology, Jonathan Ball, from the University of Nottingham has said that there is a need to differentiate between real infection and detecting the presence of the virus in a dog. A viral immunologist and veterinary surgeon, Sarah Caddy, has written that the test used in Hong Kong would be unable to detect whether the dog had the virus or if it had “simply licked contaminated surfaces in the home”.

We spoke to the Department of Health and Social Care, which said that (as published on the NHS website) there is currently no evidence that companion animals or pets can be infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

There is no evidence to suggest that pets can pass Covid-19 on to humans

The President of the British Veterinary Association has emphasised that “there remains no evidence that pet animals can be a source of infection of Covid-19 for humans or other animals, or that they become sick”.

Experience with similar viruses in the past suggests that the current situation is unlikely to change. For example, some domestic pets tested positive for a low level of SARS infection back in 2003, but none became sick or transmitted the disease to humans.

The WHO’s advice about interacting with pets is still important

The WHO says “it is always a good idea to wash your hand with soap and water after contact with pets. This protects you against various common bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella that can pass between pets and humans”.

The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department gave similar advice on good hygiene practice for pet owners, including additional advice of avoiding kissing pets. It also warned that “pet owners need not be overly concerned and under no circumstances should they abandon their pets”.

There is some extra advice for pet owners who have may have Covid-19

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says “You should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just like you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus.”

Public Health England’s home isolation guidance includes the following advice about pets: “Try to keep away from your pets. If unavoidable, wash your hands before & after contact.”

We’re all at risk from bad information.

Stay informed. Sign up to our weekly newsletter.

Covid-19 crisis: we need your help to protect us all from bad information

You’ve probably seen a surge in misleading and unsubstantiated medical advice since the Covid-19 outbreak. If followed, it can put lives at serious risk. We need your help to protect us all from false and harmful information.

We’ve seen people claiming to be health professionals, family members, and even the government – offering dangerous tips like drinking warm water or gargling to prevent infection. Neither of these will work.

The longer claims like these go unchecked, the more they are repeated and believed. It can put people’s health at serious risk, when our services are already under pressure.

Today, you have the opportunity to help save lives. Good information about Covid-19 could be the difference between someone taking the right precautions to protect themselves and their families, or not.

Could you help protect us all from false and harmful information today?